Don E. Glines received his B.S. degree from Springfield College in Massachusetts, and his M.S. and PhD degrees from the University of Oregon. During his educational career, he worked as an elementary and secondary teacher, K-12 administrator, university professor, organization and planning specialist, and a consultant at the elementary, secondary, university, and state department levels in both public and private sectors.

In the 1960s, Glines began his career of educational change. In 1963 he created the first daily smorgasbord schedule in the United States in Tucson, AZ. From 1965-1967 he served as a “Vice-President for Heresy” (a full-time change agent) for University City, MO public schools, acknowledged by the Kettering Foundation as the most innovative public school district in the United States. In 1967 he helped implement change in Watertown, South Dakota with the development of the Lincoln Education Laboratory nicknamed, “Disneyland of South Dakota.”

From 1968-1972 Glines worked at Mankato State University (now Minnesota State University, Mankato) where he directed the Wilson Campus School, co-directed the Center for Experiential and Alternative Education, and created the alternatives teaching degrees at the undergraduate (S.E.A. program) and graduate (Experiential Education) levels. Wilson Campus School was recognized by the National Observer as “probably the most innovative public school in America,” and Glines was cited as “one of the foremost apostles of educational innovation.” In 1968 Wilson became the first K-12 year-round education program in the United States since the Aliquippa, PA program closed in 1939.

In 1971 Glines co-founded the National Association for Year-Round Education and later directed the growth of the California state year-round programs from 1974-1980. After retiring from the public schools in California, Glines served as Director of Educational Futures Projects, a consulting group helping educational decision-makers envision 10-25 years ahead and then assisting them to change from what currently existed to what could be now and in the future. Many concepts and philosophies espoused were based upon the experience and research from Wilson Campus School.

Glines has been very active in educational organizations including co-founding the National Association for Year-Round Education and being an active member of the International Association for Learning Alternatives. He has published over 120 books, articles, and conference paper and has been listed in 12 “Who’s Who” style publications

for education and community leadership, including Who’s Who in American Education. In 2004, Glines was honored by the Minnesota Association for Alternative Programs for “Exemplary Contributions to Alternative Education.”

Glines currently lives in Sacramento, California where he serves as the director of Educational Futures Projects.

Information obtained from collection and from Dr. Glines.